Mitsubishi to mass-produce 1,000 humanoid robots monthly at unused engine line

Automaker Mitsubishi will begin mass-producing artificial intelligence-powered humanoid robots at its Kyoto plant in Japan. The robots, developed by Tokyo-based startup Highlanders Inc., will be built on an unused engine production line repurposed for robot assembly. The facility is expected to produce up to 1,000 humanoid robots each month for industrial use. The move reflects growing investment by automakers in physical AI and factory automation as manufacturers seek to expand the deployment of humanoid robots in production environments. Factory robots rise Mitsubishi has partnered with Tokyo-based robotics startup Highlanders to develop and mass-produce AI-powered humanoid robots, with production scheduled to begin in early 2027 at the company’s Kyoto Plant. The facility is expected to manufacture up to 1,000 humanoid robots per month by repurposing unused factory space and idle engine production lines. The first robots will be deployed on Mitsubishi’s engine manufacturing lines, where they will perform factory tasks and generate operational data to refine their performance. After this validation phase, Mitsubishi and Highlanders plan to market the humanoid robots to other manufacturers and businesses facing persistent labor shortages. Mitsubishi Motors has already invested in Highlanders and plans to make additional investments in the future. The partnership combines Highlanders’ physical AI technology with Mitsubishi’s decades of automotive manufacturing expertise and quality control processes. By leveraging its established production capabilities, Mitsubishi aims to scale humanoid robot manufacturing efficiently while ensuring automotive-grade reliability. “By utilizing humanoid robots in our own manufacturing facilities and supporting the production of Highlanders products, we aim to leverage the outcomes of this collaboration to drive our growth and enhance corporate value,” said Takao Kato, chairman of the board and CEO of Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, in a statement. Tokyo startup advances Highlanders is a University of Tokyo spin-off founded in 2023 with the goal of developing general-purpose humanoid and quadruped robots powered by physical AI. Headquartered in Tokyo, the startup focuses on building robots capable of performing practical work in manufacturing, logistics, infrastructure inspection, and disaster response, where labor shortages are becoming increasingly severe. The company’s flagship humanoid platform, HL Human, was first unveiled in 2025. The prototype features a 19-degree-of-freedom (DOF) body equipped with high-output electric actuators that enable human-like movement. It is designed to autonomously perform complex industrial tasks using AI-powered perception, motion planning, and natural-language interaction. Highlanders has also announced plans to equip future versions with dexterous five-finger hands capable of grasping objects weighing up to 3 kilograms, significantly expanding the robot’s manipulation capabilities. The startup’s broader vision extends beyond hardware. Highlanders is developing a physical AI framework that allows robots to understand instructions, perceive their surroundings, and execute tasks with minimal human intervention. The company also provides robot simulation software to accelerate training and deployment across different industries. “We believe that achieving mass production of domestically developed humanoid robots through this partnership with Mitsubishi Motors, which brings decades of manufacturing expertise, represents a significant step toward achieving this goal. Furthermore, deploying our robotics technologies within Mitsubishi Motors’ manufacturing operations will provide a valuable opportunity to drive technological advancement in our products,” said Hiroya Masuoka, representative director and CEO of Highlanders, in a statement. Recommended ArticlesGet the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.Jijo is an automotive and business journalist based in India. Armed with a BA in History (Honors) from St. Stephen's College, Delhi University, and a PG diploma in Journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Delhi, he has worked for news agencies, national newspapers, and automotive magazines. In his spare time, he likes to go off-roading, engage in political discourse, travel, and teach languages.